Page:Theophrastus - History of Stones - Hill (1774).djvu/284

 in Mixture with other Bodies. It has been called the Vague Acid, and the Univeral Acid.

We have been accutomed to meet, with it under two ditinct Forms; and to know it under the Names of two Species: Thee are the Vitriolic and the Muriatic Acid: And to thee we are lately taught to add a third, which, from the Place where it has been dicovered, Authors have called the Swedih Acid; and to which ome, tho' very improperly, have given the Name of the Sparry Acid. Perhaps, in ditinction from the other two, it may be better named the Stony Acid; ince the Subftance from which we obtain it is a Stone; tho' not a Spar.

There are many who hold thee Acids to be eentially ditinct. Perhaps they are o: But it eems more probable, that they are only different Modifications of one and the ame Spirit: And perhaps it will not be carrying the Opinion too far to uppofe this one univeral Acid to be the Bais alo, and Foundation of the nitrous; and even of the animal and vegetable Acids, the urnious, the fermented, &c.

Chymits of great Knowledge have proved the very near Relation between the vitriolic, and the nitrous Acid; and ome: by fair Experiments have alo hewn there is a great Analogy between the nitrous and the marine or muriatic. They have endeavoured to prove, from thee Experiments, that the nitrous, and the vitriolic on the one Part, and that the nitrous and muriatic, on the other, have o great